Some of us welcomed new bridge

AS a younger resident in Elmbridge, I would like to say how disgusted I am at the dire result of the recent public enquiry into the proposed replacement of Walton bridge.The site around Walton bridge currently is an embarassment to Walton and has been for the 27 years I have spent growing up in the town.It is comical to think about the projects we did at school, looking at all the different ‘bridges of Walton’, and how a temporary bridge, built to last five years in 1953 has been there for over 50. I never thought I would grow up, go through secondary school, then college, and return from four years at university, then move out on my own, to still find the same eyesore and traffic congestion, caused by allowing vehicles to turn right into Cowey Sale, that has affected Walton since the 1980s.But I should have known that with the ‘nimby’ resident associations that dither for years over important decisons that should have been made decades ago, to expect nothing else. Your article (News & Mail, November 15) quoted a spokesman for those against the regeneration as saying: “The report is excellent news both for the Walton Bridge Campaign and for all those they represent.” Well how about the rest of residents living in Elmbridge, especially Walton, who democratically voted for the new design and have had to watch their money being wasted on a public enquiry, so a few residents who live in Weybridge and Esher are happy? To add insult to injury the article quoted a women from Esher, which is nowhere near to Walton Bridge, as being pleased the design was rejected. What about residents in Walton who aren’t happy with it?There is currently no weight limit on Walton Bridge, and has not been for a long time, so why do we need one? And what makes residents in Walton so special that all vehicles over a certain weight should go over Hampton Court and Chertsey bridges instead?The fact that the Heart Shopping Centre will be ready before the road infrastructure, sums up the incompetence of Elmbridge Borough Council.And to use the ‘environment’ and ‘protection of Cowey Sale’ as a reason not to build the bridge is one of hypocrisy. As for being ‘green belt’, ‘muddy belt’ would be more fitting, which has rats living underneath the rubbish bins next to a public food outlet. Which poses a greater risk to peoples’ health and the environment? Perhaps Surrey County Council should incorporate two-bedroom apartments into the development, then they would definitely get permission to go ahead with the desperately needed scheme.JOANNA REIDWalton